THE KID KEEPING THE KING ALIVE: An Interview With Maxlee James

I frequently joke about approaching 30 and being an aging millennial, but apparently, all it takes is a thirty-minute chat with a talented teenager to make me feel like I should be applying for a senior citizen discount. I recently caught up with Maxlee, a nineteen-year-old Elvis Tribute Artist who is currently taking the tribute world by storm. He’s charming, wildly driven, and accomplishing more before breakfast than I do in a typical year- but he also has a way of making me feel about a hundred years old without even trying. We had a great time talking shop, but I wasn’t prepared for the ultimate Gen Z reality check that officially cemented my "dinosaur" status. It happened the second we started talking about how he first discovered the King.

Maxlee: When I learned to spell and started using YouTube, Elvis popped up on my algorithm.

When Maxlee said that to me, I felt like somebody’s grandma. When I was nine years old, YouTube was just being invented; when Maxlee was nine, he was donning a little gold jacket for his school talent show and winning his first world championship in Memphis. While he was conquering the stage, I was heavily invested in my Webkinz- the millennial equivalent of Beanie Babies.

All jokes aside, it’s incredible what Maxlee has achieved in his nineteen years. Beyond his tribute career, he’s set to release his first album on February 13th, "Exceeding Expectations," a project heavily influenced by the raw, crackling rockabilly sound of Sun Studios. He didn’t just record "in the style" of the greats; he actually recorded the project at Sun itself, walking the same floors as Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. I asked him which path he wanted to pursue more: the life of a tribute artist or a solo career? He admitted it’s a bit of a balancing act. He’d love to do both, but having a foot in each door is a unique challenge. He hates having to pick a side, but he told me he’d ultimately go with whichever path offers the most success. For now, he’s just enjoying where the road takes him.

The moment we started talking, his devotion was undeniable. It wasn't just the physical tributes- like the "Jailhouse Rock" clock in the corner of his room with swinging legs for pendulums- it was his visible passion. His face lights up the second he starts talking about the King, and he admitted he probably knows a bit more Elvis trivia than the "average Joe." When I asked what specifically caught his attention about a man who died decades before he was born, he couldn’t help but grin.

Maxlee: Man. I had NEVER seen anyone wearing a white jumpsuit, who else could pull that off?! Who else could sing ‘Polk Salad Annie’ and shove a microphone in his mouth and be freaking cool for that?! His presence, his persona, his charisma, it’s just unmatched. I’ve never seen that before and, every time I go on stage, I hope to capture maybe just a little sliver of that.

Because Maxlee got his start in the youth circuit, transitioning to adult

Is that not the cutest little Elvis you've ever seen?!

competitions felt like a natural evolution rather than a hurdle. He’s competing against people he’s known for a decade. But for him, the stage isn’t about chasing the "Ultimate" title or the fame.

Maxlee: I hate to sound so cheesy, but I do it to keep the legacy alive. I try to be as authentic to Elvis in the ‘50s as I can, and I do it because I love it. And if I don’t win, then oh well, I go home and I’ll get ready for the next one.

Maxlee focuses on the '50s era not just because of his age, but because he believes it was Elvis at his most "electric" and "raw." However, for those looking for a glimpse into the future, here is some insider knowledge: Maxlee has an "Owl" jumpsuit on order- the same style Elvis wore in 1972 at the Greensboro Coliseum, a venue Maxlee has actually performed in himself. I asked him if being the face of the next generation donning the jumpsuit felt like a heavy burden to carry.

Maxlee: -chuckles- Continuing the life and legacy of the King of Rock and Roll? That doesn’t sound scary at all, does it? It is, but it’s also rewarding. Sometimes it’s hard getting people past the mental mindset they already have about Elvis- a fat guy who died on a toilet- and show them who he really was. But it really pays off when I see that spark, when they realize that he’s actually incredibly talented and a cool guy. People finally saw past the jumpsuits and saw him for who he really was: a guy onstage who loved to perform.

Despite the suits and the stage lights, Maxlee remains remarkably grounded. He doesn’t struggle to separate himself from the icon; offstage, he’s just a normal kid who wears normal clothes.

Maxlee: When I’m not performing, I’m just a 19-year-old kid. I just do normal stuff teenagers do.

Me: I have no idea what teenagers do.

We talked about his favorite songs- which apparently change by the hour- though he has a soft spot for gospel and the "deep cuts" that most casual fans never hear. As for his advice to the next wave of performers? It’s a message of authenticity: start at the source. He emphasized the importance of studying the King himself. Watch as much footage as you can and strive to replicate his stage presence and charisma. He’s currently buzzing about the upcoming Elvis documentary, Epic, and its unreleased footage, calling the new material "sickening." I’ve been assured that, in Gen Z terms, that is a very high compliment.

After we finished chatting, I realized that, even though talking to him makes me consider joining AARP, it’s exactly that modern energy that’s going to keep this legacy alive. Maxlee isn’t just a kid in a costume; he’s a genuine artist who respects the history while paving his own way- one "sickening" performance at a time. As for me? I think I’ll go see if I can still log into my Webkinz account for old time's sake, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the charts this February 13th. The jumpsuit era of his career is just beginning, and if our conversation was any indication, the future of the King’s legacy is in very capable hands.

Maxlee James is a 19-year-old, multi-award-winning ETA from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Having graced stages from New York to Las Vegas, Maxlee has spent over a decade honoring the King’s legacy with no plans of slowing down. He recently recorded a new album at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, set for release on February 13th, 2026. While he continues to rise in the tribute world, Maxlee is also focused on carving out a path for his own original music. You can find him performing regularly in his hometown of Myrtle Beach or follow his socials to see when he’ll be bringing the show to a city near you!

Instagram: @maxlee_james